Editing Tropaeolum (section)

== Species in cultivation ==
[[File:Tropaeolum peregrinum 31085425.jpg|thumb|''[[Tropaeolum peregrinum]]'']]
[[File:Tropaeolum polyphyllum (3435166083).jpg|thumb|''[[Tropaeolum polyphyllum]]'']]
[[File:Tropaeolum tricolor 236431369.jpg|thumb|''[[Tropaeolum tricolor]]'']]
The most common flower in cultivation is a [[hybrid (botany)|hybrid]] of ''T. majus'', ''T. minus,'' and ''T. peltophorum''. It is commonly known as the nasturtium (and occasionally anglicized as nasturtian). It is mostly grown from seed as a half-hardy annual, and both single and double varieties are available. It comes in various forms and colours, including cream, yellow, orange and red, solid in colour or striped and often with a dark blotch at the base of the petals. It is vigorous and easily grown and does well in sun. It thrives in poor soil and dry conditions, whereas rich soil produces much leafy growth and few flowers. Some varieties adopt a bush form while others scramble over and through other plants and are useful for planting in awkward spots or for covering fences and [[trellis (architecture)|trellis]]es.<ref name=Genus>{{cite web |url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.mcfarlane/The%20genus%20Tropaeolum.html |title=The Genus ''Tropaeolum'' |author=McFarlane, J. S. |date=2001-12-29 |access-date=2012-06-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702232809/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.mcfarlane/The%20genus%20Tropaeolum.html |archive-date=2012-07-02 }}</ref>

The following [[cultivar]]s have gained the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s [[Award of Garden Merit]]:
* 'Alaska Series'<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=4516 |title=''Tropaeolum majus'' Alaska Series (v) AGM |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=2012-09-08}}</ref>
* 'Hermine Grashoff'<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1953 |title=''Tropaeolum majus'' 'Hermine Grashoff' (d) AGM |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=2012-09-08}}</ref>
* 'Whirlybird Series'<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=4219 |title=''Tropaeolum'' Whirlybird Series AGM |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=2012-09-08}}</ref>

The [[Tropaeolum azureum|blue nasturtium]] (''Tropaeolum azureum'') is a tender species from Chile which has violet-blue flowers with white eyes that can be as much as {{convert|4|cm|in|frac=2|abbr=on}} across.<ref name=PBS/>

''[[Tropaeolum brachyceras]]'' has {{convert|2.5|cm|0|abbr=on}} yellow flowers with purplish markings on wiry, climbing stems. It is a half-hardy perennial from Chile and may remain [[Dormancy|dormant]] for several years before being sparked into growth by some unknown trigger factor.<ref name=PBS/>

''[[Tropaeolum hookerianum]]'' is a tuberous-rooted species from Chile. There are two subspecies, ''T.&nbsp;h.&nbsp;austropurpureum'' which has violet-purple flowers and ''T.&nbsp;h.&nbsp;pilosum'' with yellow flowers.<ref name=PBS/>

The [[Tropaeolum peregrinum|Canary creeper]] (''Tropaeolum peregrinum'') is a trailing and climbing half-hardy annual species with wiry stalks and palmately lobed leaves. The pale yellow, fringed flowers are borne on long stalks. It originated from [[Peru]] but may first have been cultivated in the [[Canary Islands]] before being introduced into Western Europe.<ref name=World/>

[[Tropaeolum polyphyllum|Wreath nasturtium]] (''Tropaeolum polyphyllum'') is a prostrate plant originating from Argentina and Chile. It has silvery, deeply lobed leaves and a profusion of small, bright yellow flowers on long trailing stalks. After flowering, the plant dies back. It is a perennial with underground [[rhizome]]s which send up new shoots at intervals. It will survive for several years in a suitable sunny location with well-drained soil.<ref name=World/> It is a very hardy species; the tubers can grow at depths of {{convert|60|cm|0|abbr=on}} enabling the plant to survive at altitudes of as much as 3,300&nbsp;metres (10,000&nbsp;ft) in the Andes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rareplants.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=1007 |title=''Tropaeolum polyphyllum'' |publisher=Rare Plants |access-date=2014-06-04}}</ref>

The [[Tropaeolum speciosum|flame flower]] (''Tropaeolum speciosum'') is well adapted to cool, moist climates and famously does well in Scotland. It sends up shoots that thread their way through hedges and shrubs and, when they emerge into the light, bear brilliant red flowers among small, five or six-lobed leaves. It is difficult to establish but is an attractive garden plant when it thrives.<ref name=World/> This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1954 |title=''Tropaeolum speciosum'' AGM |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=2012-09-08}}</ref>

[[Tropaeolum tricolor|Three-coloured Indian cress]] (''Tropaeolum tricolor'') is another tuberous, climbing species grown for its attractive red, purple and yellow tubular flowers. It comes from Chile and [[Bolivia]] and is a reliable winter-growing species.<ref name=PBS>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Tropaeolum |title=Tropaeolum: ''Tropaeolum tricolor'' |publisher=Pacific Bulb Society |access-date=2012-06-23}}</ref>

[[Mashua]] (''Tropaeolum tuberosum'') is a perennial climbing plant from the [[Andes]] grown for its tuberous roots. It has been cultivated since ancient times, and depictions of it are found at archaeological sites pre-dating the [[Inca]]s. It has leaves with five to seven lobes and small, long-spurred, red and yellow flowers. The tubers have an unpleasant smell when raw, which disappears on cooking. It is frost-hardy and produces crops of 30 tonnes per hectare at an elevation of {{convert|3000|m}} above sea level.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1434&context=ebl |title=Mashua Ethnobotanical Leaflet |publisher=Southern Illinois University |access-date=2012-06-21}}</ref> The cultivar ''T. tuberosum lineamaculatum'' 'Ken Aslet' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1955 |title=''Tropaeolum tuberosum'' var. ''lineamaculatum'' 'Ken Aslet' AGM |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=2012-09-08 |archive-date=2013-06-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615062326/http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1955 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Species originating from the coastal areas and lower foothills make most of their growth in winter, whereas the true alpine species are summer growers. Tuberous ''Tropaeolum'' species are well known for occasionally remaining [[Dormancy|dormant]] for one or more years. The species with underground rhizomes and tubers can be propagated from these, while other species are best raised from seed. Many growers favour fresh seed, but dried seed is also often successful. Seed from the winter growing species should be sown in the autumn, while the summer growing species are best sown in the spring in well-drained compost and covered with {{convert|1|to|2|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}} of grit or sand. The containers should be kept at below {{convert|4|°C}} until the seedlings appear in about a month, as too high a temperature inhibits [[germination]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Tropaeolum |title=''Tropaeolum'' |publisher=Pacific Bulb Society |access-date=2012-06-23}}</ref>